CN103843355A

CN103843355A - Assisting use of control devices with different electronic devices

Info

Publication number: CN103843355A
Application number: CN201280047536.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 威廉·R·里姆斯
Original assignee: EchoStar Broadband LLC
Current assignee: Dish Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2011-09-29
Filing date: 2012-09-28
Publication date: 2014-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-28
Also published as: MX2014003440A; TW201329919A; TWI582731B; CA2849915A1; CN103843355B; WO2013049630A1; EP2761883A1; IN2014CN02211A; EP2761883B1; BR112014005405A2; CA2849915C

Abstract

A remote determines an acknowledgement is not received for a command transmitted to a first device, broadcasts a discovery message, receives a response from a second device that received the discovery message and a proximity signal from the remote, and configures itself to control the second device. The remote may also transmit an acknowledgement to the second device. The second device may notify the first device. In various implementations, configuration information in the response may include pairing information and the remote may unpair itself from the first device and pair with the second device. In some implementations, the remote may include a table for controlling devices and the remote may utilize an entry in the table for the second device instead of the first device. In various implementations, the remote may receive responses to the discovery message from multiple devices and may select one to configure itself to control.

Description

Assist to use together control device from different electronic installations

the cross reference of related application

The application's case is advocated the 13/249th of on September 29th, 2011 application, and No. 126 U.S.'s non-provisional application cases preferential advocated for the time being the 13/287th of application on November 2nd, 2011, the priority of No. 988 U.S.'s non-provisional application cases.

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to control device, and more particularly relate to assist use together control device from different electronic installations.

Summary of the invention

The present invention discloses the system and method for assisting to use together from different electronic installations control device.Control device can be transmitted into order described control device and be configured to the first electronic installation of controlling.Do not receive in response to the replying of described order if described control device is determined, so described control device can find that information broadcast is to operating to be subject to described control device control and all electronic installations in the scope of the signal for broadcasting described discovery message.Described control device can receive the response to described discovery message from second electronic device, at least one approach signal that described second electronic device receives described discovery message and launched by described control device.Utilization is included in the configuration information in described response, described control device configurable self to control described second electronic device.

In various embodiments, described control device can be configured to now control replying of described second electronic device by the described control device of indication and be transmitted into described second electronic device.In some embodiments, if described second electronic device is configured to communicate by letter with the first electronic installation, so described second electronic device can notify described control device to be configured to now control described second electronic device to described the first electronic installation.

In one or more embodiments, described configuration information can comprise the unpaired message for making described control device and the pairing of described second electronic device.In this type of embodiment, configure described control device with control described second electronic device can comprise make described control device and described the first electronic installation solution pairing and utilize described unpaired message with described second electronic device pairing.In one or more other embodiments, described control device can comprise the one or more control table of articles for controlling multiple electronic installations.In this type of embodiment, configure described control device with control described second electronic device can comprise configuration described control device with by the entry in described table for described second electronic device but not by entry for described the first electronic installation.

In various embodiments, control device can receive the response to discovery message from multiple different electronic installations.In this type of embodiment, described control device can select response electronic installation in one and configure self to control the electronic installation of described selected response.This selection can be based on: first receive which response; Which response the signal with highest signal strength carries; Which respond packet is containing effectively authorizing identifier; Whether previously configured described control device to control the electronic installation corresponding to response; Specify user's input of the electronic installation of selecting which response etc.

Should be appreciated that, above general description and below to describe both in detail be for example and task of explanation and not necessarily limit the present invention.The accompanying drawing that is incorporated in this specification and form the part of this specification illustrates subject matter of the present invention.Description and graphic one is used from explains principle of the present invention.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Fig. 1 is that explanation is for assisting and the block diagram that uses the system of control device together with the different content player of content player network.

Fig. 2 is that explanation is for assisting and the flow chart that uses the first case method of control device together with the different content player of content player network.Can carry out the method by the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is that explanation is for assisting and the flow chart that uses the second case method of control device together with the different content player of content player network.Can carry out the method by the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 A is that explanation user utilizes for assisting and the figure that uses the system of control device together with the different content player of content player network to 4E.Described system can be the system of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is that explanation is for assisting to use together from different electronic installations the flow chart of the first case method of control device.Can carry out the method by the control device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is that explanation is for assisting to use together from different electronic installations the flow chart of the second case method of control device.Can carry out the method by the content player of Fig. 1.

Embodiment

The instance system, method and the computer program that comprise concrete enforcement various elements of the present invention are below described.But, should be appreciated that the various ways practice that described invention can be except form described herein.

Various types of electronic installations can be carried out any number multiple difference in functionality.The instruction that these functions can for example, receive in response to the control device that is associated via one or more (one or more remote controls) and carrying out.The example content player of this type of electronic installation, electronics kitchen utensils, automobile, television set, Set Top Box, television receiver, digital VTR, TV tuner, digital music player, desktop PC, laptop computer, cellular phone, smart phone, mobile computing device, environmental control system etc.

In some cases, control device can be exclusively used in specific electronic devices.But in other cases, single control device can be configured to be utilized together from one or more in several different electronic installations at special time.For example, the several different electronic installations of particular type can be arranged in ad-hoc location.Control device can be configured and make described control device be used in any one in the different electronic installations of special time control.This can be by making described control device and described control device that the specific electronic devices pairing of controlling (or otherwise configuring described control device to control specific electronic devices) is completed.In order to utilize the different electronic installations of control device control, described control device can from described different electronic installations pairings (or otherwise configuring described control device to control described different electronic installation), match (or otherwise configuring described control device no longer to control described electronic installation) thereby make described control device and described control device previously match the electronic installation solution of (or being otherwise configured to control).

Owing to utilizing this control device at multiple diverse location, therefore described control device can ask to be transmitted into the pairing of described control device or one or more of one or more orders that are otherwise configured to the electronic installation of controlling and to reply for described control device.If described control device firing order and not receiving is replied, so described control device can suppose that electronic installation does not receive described order or described control device and replys described in cannot receiving.In either case, described control device can determine that described control device can not be used further to control with described control device pairing or otherwise be configured to the electronic installation of controlling.

Even if therefore described control device may be able to be determined described control device and can not be used further to control with described control device pairing or otherwise be configured to the electronic installation of controlling, but described control device possibly cannot be determined and should or otherwise be configured to the new electronic installation of controlling with described control device pairing.For example, described control device can not receive for from the pairing of described control device or be otherwise configured to the first electronic installation of controlling through the replying of firing order, this is because user is carried to remote controller the region of one or more other electronic installations of location from locating the region of described the first electronic installation.If described control device and described one or more other electronic installations match or are otherwise configured to control described one or more other electronic installations, so described user may can utilize described control device and described one or more other electronic installations together.But, because described control device no longer can be used for controlling described the first electronic installation, so before described control device and described one or more other electronic installation pairings or being otherwise configured to control described one or more other electronic installations, in fact described control device may be useless to described user.

The present invention discloses the system and method for assisting to use together from different electronic installations control device.Control device (for example remote control) can be determined the replying of order not receiving in response to being transmitted into described control device and being configured to the first electronic installation of controlling.Determine in response to this, described control device can will find that information broadcast is to operating to be subject to described control device control and all electronic installations in the scope of the signal for broadcasting described discovery message.Described control device can receive the response to described discovery message from second electronic device, and described second electronic device receives described discovery message and at least one approach signal launched by described control device.Utilization is included in the configuration information in described response, and described control device is configurable self is transmitted into described second electronic device to control described second electronic device and this can be replied.If described second electronic device is configured to communicate by letter with described the first electronic installation, so described second electronic device can be notified described the first electronic installation: described control device is configured to control described second electronic device now.

Fig. 1 is that explanation is for assisting and the block diagram that uses the system 100 of control device together with the different content player of content player network.System 100 comprises: content player 101; And content player A to N104A to 104N, (each content player can be the content player of any type, for example Set Top Box, television receiver, digital VTR, TV tuner, digital music player, desktop PC, laptop computer, cellular phone, smart phone, mobile computing device and/or can operate the device with any other type of play content), its by one or more networks 103 (its can be Ethernet, coax network,

(multimedia over Coax Alliance) network, WiFi network, HomePlug network and/or connect communicatedly the network of content player 101 and any other type of content player A to N104A to 104N) be coupled communicatedly.Described system also can comprise control device 102, and control device 102 can be configured to Control the content player 101 and/or content player A arrives 104N so that Control the content player 101 and/or content player A arrive 104N to N104A to N104A.

Content player 101 (and/or content player A is to N104A to 104N) can comprise one or more processing units 106, (it can take but be not limited to following form one or more nonvolatile mediums 107: magnetic storage media; Optic storage medium; Magneto-optic storage media; Read-only memory; Random access memory; Erasable and programable memory; Flash memory etc.), one or more communications components 108, one or more infrared rays (IR) reflector and/or receiver 109, one or more radio frequencies (RF) reflector and/or receiver 110 and/or one or more output precisions 111.Processing unit 106 can be carried out the instruction that is stored in nonvolatile medium 107 and for example, for example, present device, for example not exhibiting device of one or more display unit 105 and/or for example audio frequency amplifier content (be stored in content in nonvolatile medium 107 and/or via communications component 108 and/or the communications component (satellite receiver assembly) of the disconnected network of not showing and the content that receives) is transmitted into one or more via described output precision.In addition, processing unit 106 can be carried out the instruction being stored in nonvolatile medium 107 to communicate by letter with other content player that is connected to network 103 via described communications component, and/or via infrared transmitter and/or receiver 109 and/or radiofrequency launcher and/or receiver 110 and send signal to control device 102 and/or receive signal from control device 102.

Control device 102 can comprise one or more processing units 112, one or more nonvolatile mediums 115, one or more IR reflectors and/or receiver 114 and/or one or more RF reflectors and/or receiver 113.Processing unit 112 can be carried out the instruction being stored in nonvolatile medium 115 with initial configuration sequence, and described configuration sequence is for being configured to control described control device and being configured to the content player 101 controlled and/or content player A to N104A to 104N and/or Control the content player 101 and/or content player A arrive the play content of 104N to N104A.User's input that can receive in response to one or more user's input elements that comprise via described control device (do not show) in some cases, and carry out this generic operation.For example, described control device can comprise special " being configured to control device " button, in order to the initial configuration sequence that approaches the content player in scope for configuring described control device to be controlled at the IR signaling of described control device.By another example, attempt utilizing together described control device and the current content player that is not configured to be subject to described control device control can be initial for configuring described control device to control the previous configuration sequence that is not subject to the content player of described control device control.

In various embodiments, can comprise for the configuration sequence that configures control device 102 one to N104A to 104N with Control the content player 101 and/or content player A: via RF reflector and/or receiver 113, RF signal is transmitted into the current content receiving controlled of being configured to of described control device; And via IR reflector and/or receiver 114, the IR signaling that IR signal is transmitted at described control device is approached to the content player of (and described control device is configured to control) in scope.Owing to only can receiving IR signal by near the content player being positioned at described control device and in the sight line of described control device, if so user indicates described user to wish to utilize described control device in specific region via described control device, only the content player in described specific region can receive IR signal so.RF signal is greater than the scope of IR signal and can passes through for example wall and the structure of door owing to can have, even so the current content player (wherein said user indicates described user to wish to utilize described control device) not in described specific region that is configured to control of control device, described content player also may receive RF signal.In some cases, described configuration sequence also can comprise by instruction issue to approach assembly (for example display unit 105) that the content player in scope is associated in the IR of described control device signaling with via IR reflector and/or receiver 114 and activate (powering up).

Configure control device 102 and for example, can receive RF signal with the content player (content player 101) of controlling.If content player 101 also receives IR signal (if for example content player 101 indicates described user to wish to utilize in the region of described control device user), content player 101 can be ended configuration sequence because content player 101 has been subject to described control device control so.

But, if content player 101 does not receive IR signal, so content player 101 can determine be connected to network 103 another content player (for example one of content player A in to N104A to 104N) whether described in content of announcement player 101 another content player received IR signal.If so, content player 101 can determine that user has asked to configure control device 102 to control described another content player so.What so, content player 101 can order that the indication of described control device activates that (powering up) be associated with described another content player presents device (for example display unit 105).This order can comprise one or more IR codes (it can be stored in nonvolatile medium 107 and/or nonvolatile medium 115) for activating the assembly being associated with described another content player.Described another content player can present via described associated component can ask described user to confirm that described user wishes to configure control device to control the prompting of described another content player and/or associated device.If receive positive response, content player 101 can indicate control device to allow described control device to be configured to control described another content player so.This instruction can comprise the entry corresponding to described another content player in control device utilization control table of articles described in order.Or this instruction can comprise the described control device of indication and the pairing of described control device solution, described another content player can be matched with described control device.

But, even if object content player is to have indicated described user to wish to utilize in the region of control device 102 user, described object content player may not receive IR signal (if the IR reflector of for example described object content player and/or receiver are kept off) yet.So, for example, determine that another content player (for example one of content player A in to N104A to 104N) that is connected to network 103 fails to give notice content player 101 and received IR signal if receive the content player (content player 101) of RF signal, content player 101 can order described control device indication to activate the known all devices that present that are associated with any content player that is connected to network 103 of described control device so.Content player 101 also can order all the elements player of being connected to network 103 to present prompting in presenting on device of being associated with corresponding contents player, and described prompting asks described user to be confirmed whether to configure described control device to control described corresponding contents player.Then, content player 101 can be based on for which prompting receiving which response and determine that described user wishes to configure described control device to be operatively connected to which content player of network 103.So, content player 101 can indicate described control device to allow described control device to be configured to control through determining content player.This instruction can comprise control device utilization described in order control in table of articles corresponding to the entry through determining content player.Or this instruction can comprise the described control device of indication and the pairing of described control device solution, makes described warp determine that content player can match with control device.

In one or more embodiments, control device 102 can be stored the control table of articles that one or more content players (for example content player 101 and/or content player A are to N104A to 104N) from being connected to network 103 receive.Each that control in entry can and can comprise control entry (for example RF entry) for corresponding contents player and for example, for the command code sets (IR command code) of the assembly that is associated with corresponding contents player corresponding to the one in described content player.Control device 102 can be by being configured in described control device in described table through setting to utilize which entry to be configured to control and/or be configured to no longer control one or more in described content player.So, in the time that described control device reconfigures no longer to control certain content player and controls another content player, described control device can be configured to utilize corresponding to the entry of described another content player but not corresponding to the entry of described certain content player.

In this type of embodiment, can for example, by one or more (content player 101 and/or content player A are to N104A to 104N) the construction control table of articles being connected in the content player of network 103.Controlling described in construction in table of articles, described content player can communicate by letter to determine with other content player that is connected to network: for each content player by the entry of setting up; The command code for associated component for the entry of corresponding contents player (but some entries can not comprise for the command code with the assembly being associated corresponding to the content player of described entry, this is because some content players can be unconnected with assembly) etc. will be included in.Determine that control device 102 is current and do not store described table of articles if control the content player of table of articles described in construction, so described content player can be transmitted into described table of articles described control device and also can indicate described control device to utilize which entry.Subsequently, described control device can no longer be controlled current in check content player and be configured to utilize which entry to control different content player by the described control device being updated in pair-entry table through reconfiguring.

In addition one or more (for example content player 101 and/or content player A are to N104A to 104N) that are connected in the content player of network 103, can determine that the table of articles of being stored by control device 102 contains inaccurate information.If one or more content players have added described network to and/or have removed from described network, if one or more assemblies have been associated with one or more content players that are connected to described network and/or are unconnected etc., the information in the table of articles of being stored by described control device so may be out-of-date.If the definite table of articles of being stored by control device 102 of content player contains inaccurate information, so described content player can order described control device to upgrade described inaccurate information.Such as, according to setting update time table (every mornings 3 point) etc., as long as described information becomes inaccurate, can carry out this renewal.

Although above to make first signal be that RF signal and secondary signal are IR signal for explanation and descriptive system 100, other signal type is possible.For example, described secondary signal can be and can approach the signal type except IR signal that for example, content player in scope (20 feet) receives by described control device specific, and described first signal can be can by with the specific signal type except RF signal that approaches extraneous content player reception at described control device of described control device pairing.

Fig. 2 explanation is for assisting and the method 200 that uses control device together with the different content player of content player network.Can be by the content player of Fig. 1 101 manners of execution 200.Flow process starts and advances to frame 202 from frame 201, and wherein content player 101 operates.Then, flow process advances to frame 203, and wherein processing unit 106 determines whether content receiving 101 receives the first signal of for example, wanting to utilize described control device from the indicating user of the current control device 102 (remote control) that is configured to Control the content receiver 101 in a region.If so, flow process advances to frame 204 so.Otherwise flow process turns back to frame 202, wherein content receiving 101 continues operation.

At frame 204 places, determine that at processing unit 106 content receiving 101 receives after first signal, described processing unit determines whether content receiving 101 receives control device 102 and be transmitted into the secondary signal that is positioned at the content player in the region that user wants to utilize described control device.If so, flow process turns back to frame 202 and content player 101 continuation operations so, and this is because content player 101 has been subject to described control device control.Otherwise flow process advances to frame 205.

At frame 205 places, determine that at processing unit 106 content receiving does not receive after secondary signal, described processing unit determines whether described content receiving receives from the notice that is connected to another content receiving described in the indication of another content player of network 103 and has received described secondary signal.If so, flow process advances to frame 206 so.Otherwise flow process advances to frame 209.

At frame 206 places, after processing unit 106 determines that content receiving 101 receives notice, described processing unit is transmitted into control device 102 by order and activates (, powering up) display relevant to another content player with indication.Then, flow process advances to frame 207.At frame 207 places, described processing unit determines whether to receive the described control device of configuration to control the confirmation of described another player.If so, flow process advances to frame 208 so.Otherwise flow process turns back to frame 202 and content player 101 continues operation under the control of described control device.

At frame 208 places, to determine and received configuration control device 102 to control after the confirmation of another content player at processing unit 106, described processing unit indicates described control device to allow described control device to be configured to control described another content player.As this part, if described control device cannot be controlled multiple content players simultaneously, so described processing unit can indicate described control device to reconfigure to make no longer Control the content player 101 of described control device.Then, flow process turns back to frame 202 and described content player continuation operation.

At frame 209 places, determine that at processing unit 106 content receiving 101 does not receive after notice, institute's processing unit is transmitted into control device 102 by order and activates the known all displays being associated with any content player that is connected to network 103 of (, powering up) described control device with indication.Described processing unit also can signal to other content player and make specific selection to configure described control device to control the confirmation prompting of the content player being associated with described display to show indicating user on being associated display at it.Then, flow process advances to frame 210.At frame 210 places, described processing unit determines whether to receive the confirmation of the described control device of configuration another content player that the display based on showing the confirmation prompting responding is identified with control.If so, flow process advances to frame 211 so.Otherwise flow process turns back to frame 202 and content player 101 continues operation.

At frame 211 places, determine and receive configuration control device 102 to control after the confirmation of another content player through showing confirmation prompting based on described at processing unit 106, described processing unit indicates described control device to allow described control device to be configured to control described through identification content player.As this part, if described control device cannot be controlled multiple content players simultaneously, so described processing unit can indicate described control device to reconfigure to make no longer Control the content player 101 of described control device.Then, flow process turns back to frame 202 and described content player continuation operation.

Although illustrate and describing method 200 comprise with certain order carry out specific operation, other of other operation arranged within the scope of the invention.By means of the first example, in other embodiments, frame 203 can be contrary with the order of frame 204.By means of another example, for example, if control device 102 can be configured to expection and be received in order and the not reception within a time cycle (2 seconds) of this order of launching in

frame

206 or 209, so described control device can pretend to be received in the order of launching in frame 209.So, if determine that at frame 204 place's processing units 106 content receiving 101 receives secondary signal, so described processing unit can omit described indication control device to indicate the order that any display is powered up to be transmitted into described control device.

Fig. 3 explanation is for assisting to use the method 300 of control device together with the interior different content player that puts device network.Can be by the content player of Fig. 1 101 manners of execution 300.Flow process starts and advances to frame 302 from frame 301, and wherein content player 101 operates.Then, flow process advances to frame 303, and wherein processing unit 106 determines whether to arrange control device 102 (for example remote control).If receive the described control device of configuration and be not yet configured to be operatively connected to the request of Control the content player 101 and described control device the content player of network 103, so described processing unit can be determined described control device is set.If so, flow process advances to frame 304 so.Otherwise flow process advances to frame 307.

At frame 304 places, after processing unit 106 is determined control device 102 is set, content player 101 construction control tables of articles.As the part of described control table of articles, content player 101 and other content player that is connected to network 103 communicate by letter to determine entry to be set up and for example, for one or more command code sets with the assembly being associated corresponding to the content player of respective entries (IR command code) (but some entries can not comprise any command code, this is because some content players can be unconnected with any assembly).The table of articles of pairing also can comprise the information that allows control device for example, to need with other content player (content player 104A is to 104N) signal post via RF.This information can comprise such as media interviews control (MAC) address, individual territory net (PAN) identifier and address, encryption key etc.Then, flow process advances to frame 305, wherein advances to the front described processing unit of frame 306 in flow process described control table of articles is transmitted into control device.At frame 306 places, processing unit utilizes the instruction issue of the particular items of described control table of articles to arrive described control device indication control device.Then, flow process turns back to frame 302, and wherein content player 101 continues operation.

At frame 307 places, after processing unit 106 determines that control device 102 is not set, described processing unit determines whether to upgrade control table of articles.If described processing unit determines the information in described control table of articles and change (for example, in response to the information receiving from another content player), so described processing unit can be determined and upgrades described table.If so, flow process advances to frame 308 so.Otherwise flow process advances to frame 310.

At frame 308 places, processing unit 106 is determined renewal control table of articles, and described processing unit upgrades described control table of articles.Then, flow process advances to frame 309, and wherein said processing unit will be transmitted into control device 102 through updating form, and flow process turns back to frame 302 and content player 101 continuation operations afterwards.

At frame 310 places, the definite control table of articles that do not upgrade of processing unit 106, described processing unit determines whether to change control device 102 and is configured to the content player of controlling.If not, flow process turns back to frame 302 so, and wherein content player 101 continues operation.Otherwise flow process advances to frame 311, wherein said processing unit by the described control device utilization of indication in described control table of articles corresponding to described control device by the instruction issue of different entries that is configured to the content player of controlling to described control device.Then, flow process turns back to frame 302, and wherein content player 101 continues operation.

Although illustrate and describing method 300 comprise with certain order carry out specific operation, other of other operation arranged within the scope of the invention.For example,

frame

308 and 309 is illustrated as the independent operation of carrying out with linear order.But in various embodiments, content player 101 can be indicated control device 102 to upgrade through storage list but not be upgraded described table and then will be transmitted into described control device through updating form.

Fig. 4 A utilizes for assisting and the system 401 that uses control device 407 together with the

different content player

404 and 406 of content player network to 4E explanation user 408.As illustrated in Fig. 4 A, user 408 appears in parlor 401.Described user is illustrated as and holds the remote control 407 that is configured to controller top box 404.Set Top Box 404 is associated with television set 403.Described remote controller can contain the information relevant to using IR emission control television set 403.But undeclared television set 403 is for being powered (but in other embodiments, television set 403 can be powered or power-off).Also as illustrated in Fig. 4 A, bedroom 402 separates with parlor 401.Set Top Box 406 and the TV machine 405 that is associated are positioned in bedroom 402.But also undeclared television set 405 is for being powered.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 B, user 408 is movable in bedroom 402 and via one or more buttons of remote control 407 or other control and indicate described user to wish to utilize described remote control in bedroom.So, described remote control first signal can be transmitted into described remote control be configured to control Set Top Box (, Set Top Box 404) and secondary signal is transmitted into the Set Top Box (, Set Top Box 406) in region, bedroom.Set Top Box 404 can receive described first signal and can receive the notice that has received described secondary signal from the Set Top Box 406 of Set Top Box 406.As response, Set Top Box 404 can order described remote control indication activate television set 405 or it is powered up.As illustrated in Fig. 4 C, then television set 405 can power up and Set Top Box 406 can show on television set 405 that request user confirms that described user wishes to configure described remote control and points out with the confirmation of controller top box 406.If received the confirmation, so (in this embodiment) can indicate described remote control is reconfigured as and is configured to controller top box 406 from being configured to controller top box 404 by Set Top Box 404.Can be by utilizing difference control entry in the memory of described remote controller to reconfigure described in completing.In other embodiments, can be by making described remote controller and Set Top Box 404 separate pairing and described remote controller and Set Top Box 406 being reconfigured described in having matched.Then, described remote control can be used for controller top box 406, as illustrated in Fig. 4 D.

But, turning back to Fig. 4 B, but Set Top Box 404 may receive first signal may not receive the notice that has received secondary signal from the Set Top Box 406 of Set Top Box 406.This may be because Set Top Box 406 does not receive described secondary signal.Therefore, Set Top Box 404 can 407 indications of command remote control device activate all known TV sets or it is powered up and order the Set Top Box being associated with this type of television set to show that inquiry user 408 wishes to utilize the prompting of described remote control together with the Set Top Box being associated with described television set to confirm described user, as illustrated in Fig. 4 E.If received the confirmation in response to the shown prompting of the one in television set, so described remote control can be configured to control the Set Top Box (if described remote controller is not configured to control the Set Top Box that shows described prompting, not changing in the case configuration) that shows described prompting.If receive indicating user to being shown by television set 405, remote control is with the response of the confirmation of controller top box 406 described in option and installment, and so described remote control can be reconfigured as and is configured to controller top box 406 and TV405 from being configured to controller top box 404 and TV403.Described reconfiguring can be by utilizing the difference control entry in the memory of described remote controller to complete.In other embodiments, can be by making described remote controller and Set Top Box 404 separate pairing and described remote controller and Set Top Box 406 being reconfigured described in having matched.Then, can utilize described remote control to carry out controller top box 406, as illustrated in Fig. 4 D.

Turn back to Fig. 1, in various embodiments, control device 102 and/or content player 101 can be carried out one or more methods for assisting to use together from different electronic installations control device.Although described electronic installation illustrates and is described as content player 101 above in Fig. 1 and/or content player A arrives 104N to N104A, but in various embodiments, in the situation that not deviating from scope of the present invention, described electronic installation can be the electronic installation of other type.For example, this type of electronic installation can content player, electronics kitchen utensils, automobile, television set, Set Top Box, television receiver, digital VTR, TV tuner, digital music player, desktop PC, laptop computer, cellular phone, smart phone, mobile computing device, environmental control system etc.In addition,, although explanation and describe described electronic installation above and be all configured to communicate by letter via network 103 in Fig. 1, in the situation that not deviating from scope of the present invention, this type of electronic installation can or can not be configured to communicate by letter via this network.

In these various embodiments, control device 102 can be configured to Control the content player A104A.The processing unit 112 of described control device can be carried out the instruction being stored in nonvolatile medium 115 so that one or more orders are transmitted into content player 104A.In some cases, one or more signals (for example one or more IR signals) that can for example, launch via one or more signals of being launched by RF reflector and/or receiver 113 (one or more RF signals) and/or IR reflector and/or receiver 114 and launch described order.In other cases, can launch described order by one or more other communications components of described control device (not showing).In the time of this order of described processing unit 112 transmittings, processing unit 112 can ask from content player 104A reply guarantee to receive described through firing order by content player 104A.

After order is transmitted into content player 104A, processing unit 112 can be determined not receive and replys.In some cases, described in can not receiving, reply, this is because content player 104A does not receive described order and do not launch and reply.In other cases, content player 104A may receive described order, replys but may not launch.In other situation again, content player 104A may launch and reply, but processing unit 112 is replied described in may receiving not yet.

In any case, after determining and not receiving and reply, processing unit 112 can be found one or more that information broadcasts for example, to all electronic installations controlled with controlled device 102 that operate in the scope of one or more signals for broadcasting described discovery message (one or more RF signals of launching via RF reflector and/or receiver 113) at once.Receive this electronic installation of finding message (for example content player 101 and/or explanation and above-described any content player except content player A104A in Fig. 1) and can determine whether it also receives the message that approaches of being launched by described control device.Can for example, launch this via thering is the signal type (the IR signal of being launched by IR reflector and/or receiver 114) of limited range and/or line-of-sight constraint and approach message, if controlling dress described in making in the time of transmitting is in described limited range, so by the described reception message that approaches.In addition, this approach message can be for be transmitted at least a portion of the order of content player A104A by processing unit 112; Can in the time of the described discovery message of transmitting, (and/or before the described discovery message of broadcast) launch; And/or otherwise can launch to indicate electronic installation by described control device whether it approaches described control device.If described electronic installation receives described discovery message and described approach signal, so described electronic installation can determine that it approaches described control device and one or more responses can be transmitted into described control device.This type of response can comprise for configuring described control device to control the information of respective electronic device.

Processing unit 112 can utilize the information being included in response to configure control device 102 to control respective electronic device.Processing unit 112 also can utilize RF reflector and/or receiver 113, IR reflector and/or receiver 114 and/or another communications component (not showing) and be transmitted into described respective electronic device by indicating described control device to be configured to now control replying of respective electronic device.If described respective electronic device is configured to communicate by letter with content player A104A, so described respective electronic device can notify described control device to be configured to now control described respective electronic device to content player A104A via network 103.

For example, can receive broadcast and approach signal by content player 101.So, content player 101 can be transmitted into response control device 102.Then, described control device configurable self with Control the content player 101 and this can be replied and be transmitted into content player 101.Because content player 101 is configured to communicate by letter with content player A104A, so content player 101 can notify described control device to be configured to now Control the content player 101 to content player A104A.

In some cases, can be by configuring control device 102 with control and/or stop controlling described electronic installation with electronic installation pairing and/or solution.In such cases, the configuration information being included in response can comprise the information for described control device and the electronic installation of the described response of transmitting are matched.Therefore, described control device can be by making the electronic installation solution pairing of previously pairing of self and described control device and utilizing the unpaired message being included in described response to make self and the electronic installation of the described response of transmitting configure self to control the electronic installation of the described response of transmitting.

In other cases, as discussed above, control device 102 can be stored the control table of articles (for example, in nonvolatile medium 115) for controlling multiple electronic installations.Control device 102 can by utilize the particular items of described table configure self with control described multiple electronic installations specific electronic devices and/or can be by utilizing the different entries of described table to configure self no longer to control the specific electronic devices of described multiple electronic installations.In such cases, described control device can receive and/or upgrade from this one or more table in described electronic installation.In addition, in such cases, the configuration information being included in the response to finding message can comprise the standard of controlling the particular items of the table of respective electronic device for described control device utilization.

In all cases, control device 102 can receive the response to find message through broadcast from multiple electronic installations.In the case, control device 102 can option and installment self with the one in the electronic installation of the response controlled and follow configurable self to control the electronic installation of described selected response.

For example, control device 102 can be selected the electronic installation corresponding to the first response receiving.Owing to receiving for the first time described response, so corresponding electronic installation can be positioned to more approach described control device than the electronic installation of the response corresponding to receiving subsequently.

By means of another example, control device 102 can be selected the electronic installation corresponding to the response of being carried by signal, and described signal has higher than carrying other through receiving the signal strength signal intensity of the signal responding.Because described signal has higher signal strength, so may be by than launching described signal corresponding to the electronic installation that more approaches described control device via the electronic installation with the response receiving compared with the signal of weak signal strength.

By means of the 3rd example, if the one in response has previously been configured to the electronic installation of control corresponding to control device 102 and other one or more other response be not previously configured to the electronic installation of controlling corresponding to described control device, so described control device can select this to be previously configured to the electronic installation of controlling.Because described control device is previously for controlling respective electronic device, so user may attempt utilizing respective electronic device described in described control device control.

By means of the 4th example, electronic installation can comprise control device 102 is indicated to the authorized mandate identifier (for example sequence number or other identifier) of utilizing together with described control device of respective electronic device.In this way, can prevent that described control device configuration self may be not for example, through designing and/or wish one or more electronic installations (one or more end electronic installations) of control to control described control device.

By means of the 5th example, control device 102 can be selected in response to the input receiving from user the electronic installation corresponding to the one multiple responses.In some cases, described control device and/or various electronic installation can present user and can make via described control device one or more promptings of response.So, described control device can be selected to input specified electronic installation by described user.

Fig. 5 explanation is for assisting to use together from different electronic installations the method 500 of control device.Can be by the control device of Fig. 1 102 manners of execution 500.Flow process starts and advances to frame 502 from frame 501, and wherein said control device operates.Then, flow process advances to frame 503, and wherein processing unit 112 determines whether that order is transmitted into described control device is configured to the first electronic installation of controlling.In response to the input receiving from user, described control device can determine whether described order to be transmitted into described the first electronic installation.If so, so described control device is launched described order and flow process advances to frame 504.Otherwise flow process turns back to frame 502 and described control device continues operation.

At frame 504 places, after processing unit 112 is launched described order, described processing unit determines whether to receive described replying through firing order from the first electronic installation.If so, flow process turns back to frame 502 and described control device continuation operation so.Otherwise flow process advances to frame 505.

At frame 505 places, processing unit 112 determine do not receive from the first electronic installation after the replying of firing order, described processing unit will find that information broadcast is to all electronic installations controlled with controlled device 102 that operate in the scope of described discovery message.Then, flow process advances to frame 506, wherein said processing unit receives at least one response to the discovery request from one or more electronic installations, the approach signal that described one or more electronic installations receive described discovery message and launched by described processing unit.This approach signal can be launched and/or launch and/or launch before described discovery message together with described discovery message together with described order.If do not receive at least one response, so in some embodiments, before receiving response, described processing unit can continue to wait for.In other embodiments, described processing unit can be found message described in repeated broadcast.In other embodiment again, described processing unit can present one or more error messages and flow process can finish.

Then, flow process advances to frame 507, and wherein processing unit 112 determines whether to receive single response or noly received multiple responses.If received single response, flow process advances to frame 508 so.Otherwise flow process advances to frame 510.

At frame 508 places, to determine and received after single response at processing unit 112, described processing unit utilization is included in the configuration information in described response and configures the electronic installation of control device 102 with control response.Then, flow process advances to frame 509, wherein said processing unit described control device is configured to control now described response electronic installation reply the electronic installation that is transmitted into described response.Then, flow process turns back to frame 502 and described control device continuation operation.

At frame 510 places, determine and received after multiple responses at processing unit 112, the one in the electronic installation that described processing unit is selected to respond.Then, flow process advances to frame 511, and wherein said processing unit utilization is included in the configuration information in described response and configures control device 102 to control the electronic installation of described selected response.Then, flow process advances to frame 512, wherein said processing unit control device is configured to control now described selected response electronic installation reply the electronic installation that is transmitted into described selected response, flow process turns back to frame 502 and described control device continues operation afterwards.

Although method 500 is illustrated and be described as comprising the specific operation of carrying out with certain order, other of other operation arranged within the scope of the invention.For example, illustrating and be described in processing unit 112 configures control device 102 and will reply and be transmitted into electronic installation to control after respective electronic device described processing unit.But in other embodiments, this replys and can send with configuration and/or described processing unit can not launched this and replys simultaneously.

Fig. 6 explanation is for assisting to use together from different electronic installations the method 600 of control device.Can for example, by electronic installation (content player 101 of Fig. 1) manner of execution 600.Flow process starts and advances to frame 602 from frame 601, and wherein said electronic installation operates.Then, flow process advances to frame 603, and wherein said electronic installation determines whether the discovery message that receives to control oneself and order is transmitted into controlled electronic installation and does not receive the control device 102 of replying.If so, flow process advances to frame 604 so.Otherwise flow process turns back to frame 602 and described electronic installation continues operation.

At frame 604 places, determine to receive to control oneself at electronic installation order be transmitted into controlled electronic installation and do not receive after the discovery message of the control device 102 of replying, described electronic installation determines whether also to have received the approach signal from described control device.If so, flow process advances to frame 605 so.Otherwise flow process turns back to frame 602 and described electronic installation continues operation.

At frame 605 places, to determine and also received after the approach signal of self-control device 102 at described electronic installation, described electronic installation is transmitted into described control device by comprising for configuring described control device with the response of the configuration information of controlling described electronic installation.In some embodiments, can provide the described part of carrying out one group of multiple operation (for example, in response to finding request, receive pairing request, sending pairing acceptance response etc.) through receiving response as responding device.Then, flow process advances to frame 606, and wherein said electronic installation receives the described control device of indication from described control device and is configured to now control replying of described electronic installation.

Then, flow process advances to frame 607, and wherein electronic installation is determined whether described electronic installation is configured to (for example, via network 103) communicated by letter with previous in check electronic installation.If so, flow process advances to frame 608 so.Otherwise flow process turns back to frame 602 and described electronic installation and continues operation as control device control as described in being subject to.

At frame 608 places, electronic installation is configured to control described electronic installation now to previous in check electronic installation notice control device 102.Then, flow process turns back to frame 602 and described electronic installation and continues operation as control device control as described in being subject to.

Although method 600 is illustrated and be described as comprising the specific operation of carrying out with certain order, other of other operation arranged within the scope of the invention.For example, illustrate and describe electronic installation for to determine whether to receive discovery message before determining whether also to have received approach signal.But in other embodiments, the execution of these operations can be oppositely, can carry out these operations etc. simultaneously.

In the present invention, the method disclosing can be embodied as instruction set or the software that can be read by device.In addition, should be appreciated that the certain order of the step in disclosed method or the example that level is sample path.In other embodiments, the certain order of the step in method or stratum can rearrange, and remain in disclosed subject matter simultaneously.Appended claim to a method presents the key element of various steps with sample order, and might not mean and be limited to presented certain order or level.

Described invention can be provided as and can comprise computer program or the software with instruction nonvolatile machine-readable medium stored thereon, and described instruction can be used for computer system (or other electronic installation) to programme to carry out according to process of the present invention.Nonvolatile machine-readable medium comprises for example, any mechanism for the form can for example, being read by machine (, computer) (, software, processing application program) storage information.Described nonvolatile machine-readable medium can be taked but be not limited to following form: magnetic storage media (for example, floppy disk, video cartridge etc.); Optic storage medium (for example, CD-ROM); Magneto-optic storage media; Read-only memory (ROM); Random access memory (RAM); Erasable and programable memory (for example, EPROM and EEPROM); Flash memory etc.

Should believe by describing and will understand the present invention and many attached advantages thereof above, and can carry out various changes to the form of assembly, structure and layout by understanding in the case of not deviating from disclosed subject matter or in the situation that not sacrificing all real advantage of the present invention.Described form is only indicative, and wishes that appended claims contains and comprise this type of change.

Although describe the present invention with reference to various embodiment, be that scope illustrative and of the present invention is not limited to described embodiment by these embodiment of understanding.Many variations, modification, interpolation and improvement are possible.More generally, in context or specific embodiment, describe according to embodiments of the invention.Functionally can in various embodiment of the present invention, become by different way piece separately or combination or use different term descriptions.These and other variation, modification, interpolation and improvement can drop in the scope of the present invention as defined in appended claims.

Claims

1. for assisting to use together from different electronic installations a method for control device, described method comprises:

Utilize control device to determine not receive in response to the replying of at least one order that is transmitted into described control device by described control device and is configured to the first electronic installation of controlling;

Utilize described control device that at least one is found to information broadcast is in the scope of at least one signal for launching described at least one discovery message and can operate to be subject to all electronic installations of described control device control;

Utilize described control device to receive at least one response to described at least one discovery message from second electronic device, described in described second electronic device receives, at least one finds message and at least one approach signal of being launched by described control device; And

Described in information configuration described in utilization is included at least one response, control device is to control described second electronic device.

2. method according to claim 1, it further comprises that the configuration that the described control device of indication is configured to control described second electronic device is replied from described control device and is transmitted into described second electronic device.

3. method according to claim 1, at least one described in wherein said at least one approach signal is included at least one order or described at least one discovery message.

4. method according to claim 1, wherein comprise at least one radiofrequency signal at least one signal of launching described at least one discovery message, and described at least one approach signal comprises at least one infrared signal.

5. method according to claim 1, wherein utilize control device described in the information configuration being included in described at least one response further to comprise with the described operation of controlling described second electronic device:

Make described control device and described the first electronic installation solution pairing; And

The unpaired message that utilization is included in described at least one response makes described control device and the pairing of described second electronic device.

6. method according to claim 1, wherein said second electronic device is configured to communicate by letter with described the first electronic installation, and described method further comprises utilizes described second electronic device to notify control device described in described the first electronic installation to be configured to control described second electronic device.

7. method according to claim 1, wherein said control device receive from least one additional electronic devices to described at least one find that at least one extraneous response of message, described method further comprise the described second electronic device of control device to control described in option and installment.

8. method according to claim 7, wherein said control device is carried out the described operation with the described second electronic device controlled of control device described in option and installment because of following at least one:

Described control device received described at least one response before receiving described at least one extraneous response,

Described at least one response is carried by least one first signal with the signal strength signal intensity higher than at least one secondary signal that carries described at least one extraneous response,

Described at least one respond packet is effectively authorized identifier containing at least one, and described at least one extraneous response do not comprise effective mandate identifier,

Previously configured described control device to control described second electronic device but do not controlled described additional electronic devices, or

Described control device receives specifies at least one user's input of selecting described second electronic device.

9. method according to claim 1, wherein said control device comprises at least one the control table of articles for controlling the multiple electronic installations that comprise described the first electronic installation and described second electronic device, each in wherein said control entry is corresponding to the one in described multiple electronic installations, and wherein utilize control device described in the information configuration being included in described at least one response to control the described operation of described second electronic device and comprise the described control device of configuration to utilize corresponding to the described control entry of described second electronic device but not corresponding to the described control entry of described the first electronic installation.

10. method according to claim 9, wherein said control device receives described at least one the control table of articles from least one electronic installation in described multiple electronic installations.

11. 1 kinds for assisting to use together from different electronic installations the system of control device, and it comprises:

Control device, it comprises:

At least one first communications component, it is configured to utilize the signal communication of the first kind; And at least one second communication assembly, it is configured to utilize the signal communication of Second Type; And

At least one processing unit, it determines the replying of at least one order not receiving in response to being transmitted into described control device by described at least one first communications component and being configured to the first electronic installation of controlling;

Wherein described in definite not receiving, reply described at least one processing unit:

Utilize described at least one first communications component that at least one is found to information broadcast in the scope of at least one signal of the signal of the described first kind of launching at described at least one first communications component and can operate to be subject to all electronic installations of described control device control;

Described in utilizing, at least one first communications component reception is from least one response to described at least one discovery message of second electronic device, at least one approach signal of the signal of the described Second Type that described in described second electronic device receives, at least one discovery message and described at least one second communication assembly are launched; And

12. systems according to claim 11, wherein said at least one processing unit is by making described control device and described the first electronic installation solution pairing and utilizing the unpaired message being included in described at least one response to make described control device and described second electronic device configure described control device to control described second electronic device.

13. systems according to claim 11, wherein said control device comprises at least one nonvolatile medium, described at least one nonvolatile medium storage is for controlling at least one control table of articles of the multiple electronic installations that comprise described the first electronic installation and described second electronic device, each in wherein said control entry is corresponding to the one in described multiple electronic installations, and wherein said at least one processing unit utilization is included in information exchange in described at least one response and crosses the described control device of configuration to utilize corresponding to the described control entry of described second electronic device but not configure described control device to control described second electronic device corresponding to the described control entry of described the first electronic installation.

14. systems according to claim 11, wherein said control device receives described at least one the control table of articles from least one electronic installation in described multiple electronic installations.

15. systems according to claim 11, wherein said at least one processing unit receives at least one extraneous response to described at least one discovery message from least one additional electronic devices, and the described second electronic device of control device to control described in described at least one processing unit option and installment.

16. systems according to claim 15, wherein at least one processing unit is because of the described second electronic device of control device to control described in following at least one option and installment:

Described at least one processing unit received described at least one response before receiving described at least one extraneous response,

Described at least one processing unit receives specifies at least one user's input of selecting described second electronic device.

17. systems according to claim 11, wherein said second electronic device is configured to communicate by letter with described the first electronic installation, and described second electronic device notifies control device described in described the first electronic installation to be configured to control described second electronic device.

18. systems according to claim 11, the signal of the wherein said first kind comprises at least one radiofrequency signal, and the signal of described Second Type comprises at least one infrared signal.

19. systems according to claim 11, wherein when described at least one order of described at least one first communications component transmitting or described at least one described at least one approach signal of transmitting while finding at least one in message.

20. systems according to claim 11, the configuration that at least one first communications component is configured to control described second electronic device by the described control device of indication described in wherein said at least one processing unit utilization is replied and is transmitted into described second electronic device.

21. 1 kinds for assisting and the method that uses control device together with the different content player of content player network, and described method comprises:

Receive at the first content player place of content player network from the first signal of signal of the first kind that is configured to the control device of controlling described first content player, wherein said control device has been launched described first signal and had both been fixed on as transmitting indicating user the part of utilizing multiple signals of described control device in specific region, and described multiple signals further comprise the secondary signal of the signal of the Second Type of the content player that is arranged in described specific region that is transmitted into described content player network;

If described first content player receives the notice that has received described secondary signal from the described second content player of the second content player of described content player network, at least one order that so described order control device indication is activated at least one assembly being associated with described second content player is transmitted into described control device from described first content player, the assembly that described at least one assembly being wherein associated with described second content player is particular type; And

If described first content player does not receive the described notice and the described first content player that have received described secondary signal from the described second content player of described second content player and do not receive described secondary signal, at least one order that so described order control device indication is activated to all component of the assembly of the described particular type that described control device any content player known and described content player network is associated is transmitted into described control device from described first content player.

22. methods according to claim 21, the signal of the wherein said first kind comprises at least one radiofrequency signal, and the signal of described Second Type comprises at least one infrared signal.

23. methods according to claim 21, the indication that wherein said multiple signals further comprise at least one assembly of the assembly that is transmitted into the described particular type being associated with described first content player activates at least one the 3rd signal of described at least one assembly of the assembly of the described particular type being associated with described first content player.

24. methods according to claim 21, wherein said first content player receives the described notice that has received described secondary signal from the described second content player of described second content player, described method further comprise if described first content player receive that described at least one assembly of being associated with described second content player presents to together with utilize the response of the confirmation of described control device and described second content player, indicate so described control device to be configured to control described second content player.

25. methods according to claim 24, wherein said control device comprises at least one the control table of articles receiving from least one content player of described content player network, each in wherein said control entry is corresponding to a content player of described content player network and the command code sets that comprises at least one assembly for being associated with described content player, and the described control device of wherein said indication is configured to control described second content player and further comprises the described control entry of the described control device utilization of indication corresponding to described second content player.

26. methods according to claim 21, wherein said first content player does not receive the described notice and the described first content player that have received described secondary signal from the described second content player of described second content player and does not receive described secondary signal, and described method further comprises:

Receive the response of the confirmation of the certain content player to utilizing together described control device and described content player network, the one in the described assembly of the assembly of the described particular type that described certain content player any content player known with described control device and described content player network is associated is associated; And

Indicate described control device to be configured to control described certain content player.

27. methods according to claim 26, which in the described assembly of the assembly of the described particular type that wherein any content player known based on described control device and described content player network is associated presented described response and made the described confirmation of response and determine described certain content player.

28. methods according to claim 27, wherein said control device comprises at least one the control table of articles receiving from least one content player of described content player network, each in wherein said control entry is corresponding to a content player of described content player network and the command code sets that comprises at least one assembly for being associated with described content player, and the described control device of wherein said further indication is configured to control described certain content player and comprises the described control entry of the described control device utilization of indication corresponding to described certain content player.

29. methods according to claim 21, wherein said first content player receives the described notice that has received described secondary signal from the described second content player of described second content player, and wherein said at least one order at least one command code of comprising described at least one assembly for being associated with described second content player.

30. 1 kinds for assisting and the system that uses control device together with the different content player of content player network, and it comprises:

First content player, the part that it is configured to content player network, comprising:

At least one receiver assembly, it receives from the first signal of signal of the first kind that is configured to the control device of controlling described first content player, wherein said control device is launched described first signal and had both been fixed on as transmitting indicating user the part of utilizing multiple signals of described control device in specific region, and described multiple signals further comprise the secondary signal of the signal of the Second Type of the content player that is arranged in described specific region that is transmitted into described content player network;

At least one communications component, it is configured to receive the notice from other content player of described content player network; And

At least one at least one processing unit, it is configured to:

If described at least one communications component receives the notice that has received described secondary signal from the described second content player of the second content player of described content player network, at least one order that via described at least one communications component, described order control device indication is activated at least one assembly being associated with described second content player is so transmitted into described control device, the assembly that described at least one assembly being wherein associated with described second content player is particular type; And

If described at least one communications component does not receive described notice and the described first content player that described second content player received described secondary signal and do not receive described secondary signal, at least one order that via described at least one communications component, described order control device indication is activated to all component of the assembly of the described particular type that described control device any content player known and described content player network is associated is so transmitted into described control device.

31. systems according to claim 30, wherein said at least one communications component does not receive described notice and the described first content player that described second content player received described secondary signal and does not receive described secondary signal, and wherein:

Described at least one communications component receives the response of the confirmation of the certain content player to utilizing together described control device and described content player network, one in the described assembly of the assembly of the described particular type that described certain content player any content player known with described control device and described content player network is associated is associated, which in the described assembly of the assembly of the described particular type that wherein any content player known based on described control device and described content player network is associated presented described response and made the described confirmation of response and determine described certain content player, and

Described first content player indicates described control device to be configured to control described certain content player.

32. systems according to claim 31, wherein said control device comprises at least one the control table of articles receiving from least one content player of described content player network, each in wherein said control entry is corresponding to a content player of described content player network and the command code sets that comprises at least one assembly for being associated with described content player, and wherein said first content player is by indicating described control device utilization to indicate described control device to be configured to control described certain content player corresponding to the described control entry of described certain content player.

33. systems according to claim 30, wherein said at least one communications component receives the notice that has received described secondary signal from the described second content player of the second content player of described content player network, and wherein:

Described at least one communications component receive presented by described at least one assembly being associated with described second content player to together with utilize the response of the confirmation of described control device and described second content player, and

Described first content player indicates described control device to be configured to control described second content player.

34. systems according to claim 33, wherein said control device comprises at least one the control table of articles receiving from least one content player of described content player network, each in wherein said control entry is corresponding to a content player of described content player network and the command code sets that comprises at least one assembly for being associated with described content player, and wherein said first content player is by indicating described control device utilization to indicate described control device to be configured to control described second content player corresponding to the described control entry of described second content player.

35. systems according to claim 30, the signal of the wherein said first kind comprises at least one radiofrequency signal, and the signal of described Second Type comprises at least one infrared signal.

36. 1 kinds for assisting and the method that uses control device together with the different content player of content player network, and described method comprises:

At least one the content player construction that utilizes content player network is controlled table of articles at least one of at least one control device of utilizing the information receiving from least one other content player of described content player network, and each in wherein said control entry is corresponding to a content player of described content player network and comprise for the CID of described content player and for the command code sets of at least one assembly of being associated with described content player;

Utilize described at least one content player to determine described at least one control table of articles is transmitted into described at least one control device, wherein said at least one control device can operate with the corresponding described control entry of the one in the described content player by utilizing described content player network and be configured to control the described one in described content player; And

Described at least one control table of articles is transmitted into described at least one control device from described at least one content player.

37. methods according to claim 36, it further comprises by indicating described at least one control device utilization to configure described at least one control device to control the described one in described content player corresponding to the described control entry of the described one in the described content player of described content player network.

38. methods according to claim 36, its further comprise receive from least one other content player of described content player network by be included in described at least one control the information in table of articles.

39. methods according to claim 36, wherein said CID comprises at least one radio communication identifier, and described command code sets comprises at least one infrared ray command code sets.

40. methods according to claim 36, it further comprises:

Utilize the definite information being included in described at least one control table of articles of described at least one content player to change; And

Described in utilizing, described at least one control device of at least one content player indication upgrades described at least one control table of articles.